Hes definitely counting.

They lost to Detroit in the 2004 finals and again last year to Boston. Starting Thursday against Orlando, Jackson gets a third chance to win his record 10th title, which would break a tie with fellow Hall of Fame coach Red Auerbach.

But he insists thats not his main motivation.

Its just about this year, not about the 10th, he said.

Jackson joked about the value of possibly owning 10 championship rings, saying, One for each finger and two thumbs.

He played against Auerbachs teams, but never matched wits or Xs and Os with the cigar-chomping coach with whom he said he had a really competitive relationship.

Auerbach, who died in October 2006, once downplayed Jacksons nine titles by saying the former New York Knicks player picks his spots, implying that his championships were the result of coaching stars such as Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Shaquille ONeal and Kobe Bryant.

The chance to surpass Auerbach and make history of his own might be a personal goal of Jacksons, but it trails what the team is trying to achieve, assistant coach Kurt Rambis said.

Is he obsessed with it? Does he lose sleep over it? I seriously doubt it, he said.

Jackson turns 64 in September. He has undergone two hip replacement operations since October 2006 – using a cane at various times – and walks with a noticeable hitch in his step.

This season, he missed two West Coast road games because of pain and swelling in his lower legs caused by plantar fasciitis. He blamed late-night flights that aggravated the condition, which he plans to have doctors check out after the season ends.

Jackson credits team trainer Gary Vitti and his staff for working out his physical kinks, partly the result of his 12-year NBA playing career, and equipment manager Rudy Garciduenas for carrying his luggage on the road.

They keep me going every day, he said.

He didnt mention the role of his 47-year-old girlfriend, Jeanie Buss, a team executive and daughter of Lakers owner Jerry Buss. Theyve been together since shortly after Jackson began his first stint as coach of the team in 2000, and survived his one-season firing in 2004-05.

I came back at the behest of the Buss family to coach this team back into playoff contention, Jackson said. Every night we give ourselves a chance to win. So thats been really the blessing of coming back and having this opportunity again, to see this team come out from the ashes and become again a dominant team in the league.

In doing so, Jackson has toned down his intense approach and become more patient.

When he first came here with the Lakers, he was a lot more assertive, a lot more aggressive and demanding, Rambis said.

Jackson signed a two-year contract extension in 2007 for approximately $24 million, which takes him through this season.

Twice in 40 years, Jackson has gotten away from the grind of NBA life that exists from October to June. The idea of permanently stepping away would be hard, he said.

It always comes down to health with him, Rambis said. I dont think he views his career as over now.

Jackson hasnt allowed himself to consider what hell do if he wins a 10th title other than spend the summer in Montana contemplating his future.

Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher are the Lakers whove played the longest for Jackson. Bryant says he doesnt think about a future without the gray-haired coach.

I just try to focus on the task at hand, which was one of the things that hes taught us all, he said. Im just honored to be coached by the best coach of all time. It would be a tremendous honor to be on the team that can get him that 10th championship.

Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., sent identical letters to NBA commissioner David Stern and union leader Billy Hunter, asking that they scrap the requirement in the next collective bargaining agreement.

Cohen, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, called the requirement an unfair restriction on the rights of these young men to pursue their intended career.

In an e-mail, NBA spokesman Tim Frank said, We are looking forward to receiving, reviewing and responding to the congressmans letter, as we always do.

Stern has said he would be interested in raising the minimum age to 20 – although he was happy the way the current rule was working. The current agreement runs through 2011.

We anticipate that the age limitation issue will be front and center during collective bargaining negotiations and we look forward to the opportunity to revisit the change to the rule that was made in 2005, players association spokesman Dan Wasserman said.

In a telephone interview, Cohen told The Associated Press that hed consider both hearings and legislation if the requirement remains.

I dont think it makes any sense. It didnt hurt Al Kaline to go straight to the Detroit Tigers, he said, referring to the slugger who broke into baseball at age 18. Cohen noted that athletes in other sports, such as baseball, tennis and golf, dont face such a restriction.

In the letter, Cohen said the requirement does far more to serve the financial interests of the universities at which the students play than the educational interests of the students themselves.

He suggested that the policy might have contributed to scandals involving players in his city of Memphis, citing former University of Memphis star Derrick Rose and current Memphis Grizzlies player O.J. Mayo.

Rose, who led the Chicago Bulls to the playoffs and won the Rookie of the Year this season, has come under a cloud cast by an NCAA investigation of major violations at Memphis during the only season he played there.

Mayo played for one season at the University of Southern California and finished runner-up for the Rookie of the Year award this season. Louis Johnson, a former associate of Mayos, has told federal and NCAA investigators that Floyd gave $1,000 in cash to a man who helped steer the star player to the Trojans, according to Johnsons attorney, Anthony V. Salerno.

He even credits his consumption of sugary treats for fueling his double-double performances in Games 5 and 6 of the Western Conference finals that helped the Los Angeles Lakers close out Denver and reach the NBA finals.

Its funny because the games I played well were the games where I ate candy for breakfast, he said, grinning. Its the reason why I got double digits in points and rebounds. I guess Im going to have to eat candy for breakfast in order to play well.

That idea is appalling to Dr. Daniel Amen, a child and adult psychiatrist in Newport Beach who wrote an essay tying together Odoms candy consumption and erratic play in the postseason.

This is bad news for the Lakers, wrote Amen, an admitted Lakers fan. Ive been telling my patients for years that sugar acts like a drug in the brain. It causes blood sugar levels to spike and then crash, leaving you feeling tired, irritable, foggy and stupid. Eating too much sugar impairs cognitive function, which may explain why Odom doesnt always make the smartest decisions on the court.

Odoms performances had been up-and-down until the final two games against the Nuggets. Of course, he was bothered by an aching back, which might have had something to do with it.

I guess hes wrong, even though hes a doctor, Odom said.

He said he consumed a whole plate of jellybean Starbursts to start off those two game days last week.

If I told anyone, the first four games I didnt eat candy, the last two I did, what would you tell me to do? he said before supplying his own answer. Keep eating candy.

Kobe Bryant seemingly endorsed the idea, too, saying, Whatever works.

Odoms personal assistant procures his candy stash, shopping for Twizzler bites, Gummy Bears, Hersheys white chocolate cookies and cream (Odoms favorite), Lifesavers, and something the star forward refers to as peachy sugarcoated rings, among other goodies.

Needless to say, the treats are a huge hit with the 29-year-old players two young children, who probably think every day is Halloween at their house.

If your dad always has candy, how cool is he? Odom said. Coolest dude in the world. My kids think Im cool.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson, the father of five grown children, knows the effects of candy on kids.

Halloween is one of the worst nights of a year as a parent, he said.

With Game 1 of the NBA finals beginning Thursday against Orlando, Jackson is getting plenty of reaction to Odoms vice mixed in with the usual coaching suggestions.

Ive gotten several e-mails and comments and texts from doctors who want to tell me that sugar blues are one of the toughest things to fight, especially with kids, he said. Lamar we know is not a kid anymore. He really doesnt do that much sugar.

Trainer Gary Vitti is getting besieged, too.

You cannot imagine how many references hes had about overdoing sugar, Jackson said.

Throughout the years, Jackson has had several players with lousy eating habits.

A lot of these players come from positions in life where their diet probably is one of the main things they have to correct when they become professional players, he said.

Odom says hell pop a piece of candy at halftime, comparing it to someone else who chews gum. Bryant appreciates Odom bringing a bag to share on the team bus.

He has a lot more to pass around since word of his addiction got out.

Everybody is sending me candy now, he said.

The downside to this sweet story?

People making it like I sit there and eat a whole plate of candy before I play a basketball game, Odom said. I dont think anyone could do that.

Teammate Andrew Bynum defended Odom, saying, Its not like hes eating peach rings for dinner and things like that. Its been blown kind of way out of proportion.

Asked to name a favorite food, Odom couldnt, saying simply, I love to eat.

He joked that the uproar from those who disapprove has him considering a switch from candy to salad. Im going to say my favorite thing is to eat salads and Ill be like the altar boy, he said.

Odom has loved candy since he was a kid growing up in Queens. Asked how many cavities he has, he replied, Not too many.

Love to be his dentist, Bryant said, smiling.

The team says the surgery took five hours on Tuesday. The team says James has been aware of the medical issue for several months, but opted to postpone the surgery until the NBA season was over.

James is recovering at the Cleveland Clinic and will soon be returning home to his family.

The team says doctors believe James will make a complete recovery and will not require any further treatment.

Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers will be trying to win their first NBA title without ONeal when the finals open Thursday against Howard and the Orlando Magic.

They failed to do so last year, losing to Boston in a humiliating Game 6 defeat.

ONeal was traded after Los Angeles lost the 2004 finals to Detroit, leaving Bryant the undisputed leader of a team that won three straight championships at the start of the decade. Bryant still bristles at implications he had something to do with that.

People that really know basketball know that that stuff means nothing, Bryant said Monday, deflecting questions on ONeal. Its nonsensical actually. You want to win just to win it.

Bryant, who turns 31 in August, is completing his 13th season. He kept to himself around his older teammates early in his career. Although he teamed with ONeal to lead the Lakers to three straight championships, the two frequently zinged each publicly.

Adding a fourth NBA championship to the gold medal he helped the United States win at last years Beijing Olympics would burnish Bryants still developing legacy.

Youre thankful to be in this position, he said. A lot of players never get to this position once in a career and Ive been fortunate to be here for six times now. Its been very, very lucky.

Like ONeal, Lakers coach Phil Jackson also departed after the 2003-04 season, and later wrote a book in which he called Bryant uncoachable. Jackson then returned after taking a season off and has had a seamless relationship with Bryant ever since.

But there have been big bumps in the road.

Bryant implored the Lakers to surround him with better players in the summer of 2007, then demanded a trade.

The team responded by adding Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol, and Los Angeles reached the finals last year for the first time since 2004. Bryant also won his first league MVP award a year ago.

Jackson initially noticed a change in Bryants outlook two years ago.

He ended up just racing away with the scoring championship on an incredible run of about 15 games in a row, the coach recalled. When we came back the next year we just said we dont want that type of ball to happen again. We want more inclusiveness. There was a whole issue about us getting better talent around him and thats happened over the last two years and here we are.

Bryant often talks about his love for his teammates and the ways in which hes counseled them on improving their games. Derek Fishers return last season clearly benefited Bryant on and off the court. They were teammates on the Lakers from 1996-04 before Fisher left for three years.

Hes continued to recognize that in order for him to accomplish some of his individual goals, the team goals have to match or exceed his own goals, Fisher said. That means other guys around him have to perform at a high level. Things he can share with them, he knows how important that is, and how well we take it when he does. Hes done a great job at it the last couple of years.

And when his teammates struggle, well, Bryant can always just take over games himself. He did so in the Western Conference finals opener against Denver, scoring 40 points and making six free throws in the final 30 seconds to cinch the victory after the Lakers trailed most of the game.

Hes just gotten more comfortable with where he is in terms of what hes capable of doing on the floor and knows he can always come back to that, Fisher said.

After losing the 2004 finals, the Lakers didnt make the playoffs the following season. They failed to get out of the first round in 2006 or 07, increasing Bryants feelings of frustration and impatience.

Its been a long haul to get back here for all of us, he said. I certainly appreciate it even more. Once you have that celebration and that feeling of winning, of accomplishment, you want to have it again.

He was friends with team president Ed Stefanski from their days together in New Jersey, making him a natural contender to fill the first seat on the bench.

It just took Jordan until May to get the job.

The former Wizards and Kings coach was introduced in Philadelphia on Monday with a promise that his Princeton offense can turn the Sixers into Eastern Conference contenders.

This team has a good core group, has future stars in the waiting, theyve had playoff experience for two years, Jordan said. Now its time to go uptown.

The Sixers have been stuck in neutral ever since Allen Iverson led them to the NBA finals in 2001. Philadelphia went 41-41 this season and was eliminated in the first round by Eastern Conference champion Orlando.

The Sixers havent won a playoff series since 2003, and Jordan is the teams third coach since the start of last season and sixth in six years.

His three-year contract should bring a dose of stability to a franchise with a promising nucleus of Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand and Thaddeus Young. Orlando, Cleveland and Boston all won playoff rounds this year with superstar players leading the way. Iguodala has never made an All-Star team and Brand has missed most of the last two seasons.

Jordan has faith a recovering Brand and a blossoming Iguodala can make the Sixers better in a hurry.

I think we have two superstars already and youll see that in the next season, Jordan said. Youll see young players, still a relatively young team, become better.

The job has been open since Tony DiLeo stepped down on May 11 and returned to the front office. DiLeo took over in December for the fired Maurice Cheeks with the Sixers at 9-14.

Immediately, speculation turned to Jordan.

I thought it was a little unfair, but I dont think Ed mentioned my name. It was everybody else, he said. I wasnt interested at the time.

Following seven months of unemployment after Washington fired him after a 1-10 start, Jordan was ready to talk with Stefanski. Two days after DiLeo stepped down, Stefanski and Jordan had their first lengthy conversation.

Anticipating a vacancy, Jordan scouted the Sixers from home on TV this season.

I paid maybe a little more attention to it, yeah, he said.

Jordan emerged as the winner among a group of candidates that included Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau, Mavericks assistant Dwane Casey and Sixers scout Chris Ford.

The Sixers also interviewed Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis and spoke with Villanova coach Jay Wright.

Stefanski insisted he kept his mind open during the nearly three-week search.

There was no Eddie Jordan was going to be the coach and nobody else, Stefanski said.

Jordan is 230-288 with the Wizards and Sacramento Kings. In 2004-05 the Wizards won 45 games and a round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Hes not exactly the kind of hire that would energize a lukewarm fanbase.

You cant make people happy, Stefanski said. I dont know if I could ask the logo, Jerry West, or Pat Riley to come, I think the city I was born and raised in is going to find something wrong with them.

Jordan said former Wizards assistant Mike OKoren and Sixers assistant Aaron McKie will likely join him on staff.

He plans will turn the Sixers into winners with his Princeton offense filled with backdoor cuts and sharp passing.

If youre a basketball player with a basketball IQ, it will be easy to learn, Jordan said.

He won over Sixers management with a four-hour chalk talk portion of his second interview when he explained how each Sixer would fit in his system. Stefanski hoped that will include unrestricted free-agent point guard Andre Miller. With Brand, Marreese Speights, and Thaddeus Young in the frontcourt, erratic center Samuel Daelmbert might not be in the plans if he cant quickly adjust to the new scheme.

If it doesnt happen, then you have other alternatives – he cant play, Jordan said. He may be just a spot player. If he doesnt accept that, then there are other alternatives.

Iguodala, guard Willie Green and center Jason Smith were on hand and threw their support behind Jordan.

Theres a formula for each team to win and were going to find our formula, Jordan said.

The Wolves are, again, a team in limbo.

Theres so much work to do in this reconstruction process, though, that even if the holdovers were to publicly acknowledge the awkwardness there is little time to fret about it.

Weve got plenty to keep our minds on right now, Hoiberg said, adding: Its been fine. Davids done a nice job coming in and explaining his philosophies on things. Weve been putting a lot of projects together, just getting ready for the draft. Thats the most important thing right now, everybody continuing to do their job and get us prepared for June 25.

Kahn was hired 10 days ago as the teams president of basketball operations. McHale was in charge of the front office for more than 13 years before owner Glen Taylor sent him to the bench last December to replace fired coach Randy Wittman. Kahn and McHale have talked at least once, and theyll meet again this week to discuss whether McHale will come back.

Kahn declined to provide more specifics.

Kevin is still very much, as I am, in that situation, he said. Were still very much in a process to determine if he, or whoever, will be the coach.

Kahns four lieutenants – general manager Jim Stack, assistant general managers Hoiberg and Rob Babcock, and director of player personnel Zarko Durisic – watched a handful of draft prospects work out Monday at the teams cramped practice facility adjacent to Target Center.

Representatives from 20 NBA teams attended, while Omri Casspi (Israel), Eric Devendorf (Syracuse), Danny Green (North Carolina), Daniel Hackett (Southern California), B.J. Mullens (Ohio State) and Luke Nevill (Utah) moved around the court in the morning. Another half-dozen were due in the afternoon, with more workouts scheduled throughout the week.

Timberwolves assistant coaches were there, too, but McHale was missing.

It would put too much pressure on him, in my opinion, and it would probably make it very uncomfortable with other people here, Kahn said. I think that its not appropriate yet until we resolve it. It would be more appropriate once we have it resolved.

The future for the rest of the front office isnt resolved, either. Taylor didnt decide on Kahn until more than after the end of the regular season, leaving roughly the same amount of time for him to prepare for a draft in which the Wolves currently hold three first-round picks: Nos. 6, 18 and 28.

Changes, if Kahn so desires them, would be disruptive during this critical month. So everyone is status quo, including Stack and Hoiberg, who were candidates for the position that went to Kahn.

I think all of us were very professional throughout the whole thing and stayed on task, Hoiberg said. This is a very important draft. We set ourselves up with all the draft picks and the cap room and the flexibility we have. We just all went out and did our jobs and got ourselves prepared.

David came in, and a lot of its been getting him caught up on where things are with draft picks. Hes a sharp guy. Hes very smart, and he knows what he wants.

Might that include a true, defense-driven center to complement cornerstone Al Jefferson in the post?

I dont know if well do it in the draft, but I agree with this concept that it would be great as we all know to have some length, Kahn said.

Mullens, who left the Buckeyes after his freshman season, could line up well with Minnesotas middle pick.

Im a big. Im agile. I can move really well. Im young. And Im 7 foot, he said. I just feel that Im ready. This is my time to go. The opportunitys right there in front of me, so Im going to take it.

I want to assure you that were going to make this work, that the money will be here next year to support this university, Shinn said to student-athletes during an announcement about the formation of the new committee. Thats a promise from me.

Shinn added, I want you to promise to me that youll come back and that youll support this university and help support us.

The dozens of athletes in attendance uttered a collective, Yes, and clapped in support.

The future of UNO sports has been in serious doubt since last week, when students rejected a proposal to double their athletic fees to nearly $200 a year. The fee increase was proposed as a way to compensate for anticipated deep cuts across Louisianas public universities.

Statewide, Gov. Bobby Jindal has proposed cutting $219 million in funding for higher education as the state grapples with sharp declines in revenue due to the national recession and the sharp drop in oil prices late last year.

The proposed overall cut at the University of New Orleans is more than $15 million, including a $1.4 million cut to athletics, which already was running a $600,000 deficit.

UNO chancellor Tim Ryan said hope remains that the state Legislature will change Jindals budget bill and restore some higher education funding.

If the Legislature …. does not cut higher education by the obscene amount that is in the (state budget) bill at this point, then we have a permanent solution for UNO athletics, UNO chancellor Tim Ryan said.

Theres no guarantee of that, however, so Shinn said he decided he would take action now in an effort to persuade UNOs current athletes to stay put.

We will have the money when the moneys needed, Shinn said. The calls Ive made have been very positive. Were just really committed to build this program to help this university because this is such an asset, weve just got to do it.

Shinn said he would be writing a check himself to cover part of a deficit that athletic director Jim Miller estimated would approach $2.5 million in the next academic year. Shinn said the new committee would come up with the amount he would give, based on what seems reasonable enough for other business leaders and wealthy individuals to match.

Shinn said he also would lend the marketing know-how of his NBA club to help UNO sports promote themselves better and increase ticket sales.

Charles Carmouche, a guard on the UNO mens basketball team, was among those on hand for the announcement.

I feel a whole lot more confident. Its unbelievable what George Shinn and his people are doing for the program, Carmouche said. Its a big help and I really appreciate it personally as a native of New Orleans. I can go to sleep better tonight.

Basketball coach Joe Pasternack, also a New Orleans native, said the failed student vote on increased fees may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

Sometimes it takes crises for people to step up and this was a crisis, Pasternack said. This is huge for us, the show of support, getting George Shinn, getting all these big-time business people behind UNO athletics.

Others lending support include UNO graduate John Georges, a business owner and former gubernatorial candidate, as well as former UNO basketball star Gabe Corchiani (brother of former NBA player Chris Corchiani). Georges and Corchiani already donated $1 million toward renovations at 8,800-seat Lakefront Arena, which reopened last season following $26 million in repairs to damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.

If UNO athletics would go away, its such a black eye for the city, Corchiani said. What type of message would that send about New Orleans across the country?

Dwight Howard had 12 points and 12 rebounds and Rashard Lewis(notes) had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Magic, who stole Game 1 and home-court advantage on Monday night despite blowing almost all of a 28-point lead.

Game 3 is Friday night in Orlando.

Rondo had 12 assists without a turnover at the half and finished one assist short of his career high. The only time the 6-1 point guard has had more than 18 assists was the triple-overtime Game 6 of the first-round series against Chicago in which he played 57 1/2 minutes.

Ray Allen scored 22 points and Kendrick Perkins had 16 points and nine rebounds for the defending NBA champions.

Lakers 111, Rockets 98=

LOS ANGELES – Kobe Bryant scored 40 points, Pau Gasol added 22 points and 14 rebounds and the Lakers evened the Western Conference semifinal series.

Ron Artest, one of two players ejected in the game, scored 25 points and Carl Landry added a career playoff-high 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who overcame a 14-point deficit in the first half only to trail most of the second half.

Game 3 is Friday night in Houston.

Houstons Yao Ming finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds after picking up three fouls in the first half.

Emotions boiled over in the second half, with Derek Fisher(notes) and Artest getting ejected and five technical fouls assessed, including one to Bryant.

The Pistons said Hamilton aggravated the injury in Detroit’s 90-88 victory over Oklahoma City on Friday night. He was inactive for the game against the Bucks and was listed as day-to-day.

Hamilton had started the Pistons’ first 27 games, averaging 17.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists.